File-cabinet.



No. 846,881. PATENTED MAR. l2, 1907.

S. T. WALTON.

FILE CABINET.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.25,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTE@ MAR. 12, 1907.

S. T. WALTUN.

FILE CABINET. APPLIoATIoN FILED AG.25.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SAMUEL T. WALTON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FILE-CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed August 25, 1905. Serial No. 275,816.

T0 all whom, t may coll/cern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. WALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in File-Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to ile-cabi nets of that type in which a plurality of boxes, drawers, or receptacles are assembled in close relation in a supporting frame or casing, so that they may be individually withdrawn for thc ing, or inspecting papers or nles.

The improvements which I have devised embody the unit idea or system, by means of which an elastic one which may be made up of more or less sections or units, according to the needs of,

the user. l

Stated generally, my invention contemplates a structure which is of skeleton-likel form in that the supporting frame or casing proper is made up `of base end panels and crown or top piece with an unobstructed interior and a series or plurality of boxes or drawers within the inclosing frame in combination with a novel drawer` guide and support, by the use of which I amenabled t dispense with division-walls or supportingpartitions between the drawers.

Primarily my invention relates to an improved form of drawer guide and support by means of which the cabinet or sum of units -may be readily built up this drawer-guide, as well as the other parts of the cabinet, being made entirely of metal, as hereinbefore stated, and of `such construction that it permits a close assemblage of the several drawers or receptacles, at the same time affording a irm and secure support therefor and one which allows the ready withdrawal or replacement of the drawers or file-boxes.

Secondarily, 4my invention relates to improvements` in the .inclosing casing Yof the cabinet, to the end that this casing may be expanded or contracted as the ,cabinet is built uv vby adding more'le-case units or reduced y subtracting them.

In the drawings herewith I have illustrated` one embodiment of my invention' in order that the same may, in connection with the detailed descri tion hereinafter, be made clear to those s illed inthe art, and in said drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet purpose of depositing, removcabinet is provided or undercut channels or runways 8 in constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of one end oi the cabinet to show the relation of the base end panels,vcrown, and drawers. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the drawer-guide. Fig. 4 is a detail view oi' a slightly different construction of guide. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the corners of a drawer to show the guide-engaging rib thereon. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a slightly different construction of drawer-corner. Fig. 7 is a detail view of still another form of corner, and F ig.'8 is a detail perspective view of one of the end panel-sections of the cabinet.

Referring to they drawings by numerals, like numerals indicating like parts-in the severalviews, 2 designates the base orfoot sections of the cabinet, each of which yis made of sheet metal of suitable thickness to give the necessary structural rigidity and isl moldedby rolling orfstamping to such form and design as may be desired. These base-sections 2 will be made up of any desired length, those herein shown being of a width approximately equal to the combined Widths of two drawers and at their meeting ends will overlap, as shown, so as to give a spliced joint and furnish a rigid sectional formation of unbroken design. Rising from `said base 2,at the ends thereof, are thev end panels 4, of sheet metal, these panels 4 being preferably equal to the combined height of two boxes in furtherance of the unit system. The panels 4 have lapped joints 5, as shown, in order that the casing orframe may be rigid and ofi-completed design and appearance when built up, and each panel 4 has affixed to its inner face in any suitable manner ribs 6, which, as will presently appear, serve to sup guides, which not on y serve to connect the various parts of the cabinet, but also act as guides and supports drawers or receptacles slide. The lower panels 4 are removably secured to the basepieces 2 by meansof foot-ribs 7, similar to ribs 6, above referred to, which ribs 7 engage ides 9, suitably mounted on and secure to the base-pieces 2 by means of ribs 7 on said base-pieces 2, (see Fig. 2,) which engage and slide in the' channels 8 of the guides 9. The

`said panels 4 are preferably provided on their front vertical edges with right-angle flanges 10 for the purpose of giving a finish to the casing and bridging or covering the interort the interlocking on which the individual IOO IIO

space between the sides oi the drawers and the panels, these flanges 10 being preierabl y embossed or molded, as shown, to give a y linished design to the casing or trame. The ribs 6 on the inner tace'o'i the panels l 4 serve as supports for the guides S), said l guides being crucii'orm in` cross-section, as E shown, and preferably approximating the l form of the Maltese cross, so vas to provide i longitudinal channels or runways S between i their limbs for the, reception ot the supporte ing and connecting ribs 6 on the panels 4 and also to receive the guide-ribs on lthe drawers, as will be hereina'lter more iully explained. These guides 9 may be formed, as shown in i Fig. 3, of four continuous strips or charbl l nel-pieces 12, substantially semicircular in cross-section, held. together by thev interlocked crown-pieces 13 and having thefcentral core or spreader 14, or they may be made up of a single strip bent up into crucii'orm shape to provide the channels or runways 8 i'or the engaging ribs, as shown in Fig. 4.

"he drawers 15, of sheet metal, are provided at their four longitudinal corners with outstanding centrally-disposed ribs 16, said ribs 16 being preferably formed of the metal of the drawer itself and being round in crosssection, with a core 17, of wire, as shown in Fig.' 5; but they may be shaped up ilat, as shown in Fig. 7, and,ii desired, either form of rib may be made separate from' and be at tached to the longitudinal corner of thebox in any secure fashion. These ribs 16 are designed to engage with and slide in the channels or runways 8 of the guides 9, the end guides or those secured at one side to the ribs 6 on the ends of thel panels 4 of the case serving to support two boxes 15 one above and one below, as will be apparent. After the end tier of boxes 15 have been placed in position with their ribs 16 in engagement with the channels 8 of the guides 9 a second set oi guides 9 will be engaged with the ribs 16 on the opposite side ci the iirst tier of boxes a second tier of boxes 15 will be engaged with the guides 9 thus built into the system, and so on until the limit desired has been reached, when end panels 4 and an end basepiece 2, identical in construction with the end panels and base-piece above described, will be added, and the case is complete.

Preferably the case or cabinet will be iinished by a sectional lapped joint crown or top piece 17 a, which is molded after the fashion of the base-piece 2` and of corresponding'andharmonious design. The said crownpiece 17a has ribs 18 similar to the ribs 7 on the base-piece 2, which engage the upper'row of guides 9 in an obvious manner and lock l the top piece or crown in place.

.Frein the foregoing it Will be seen that I have provided a cabinet or tile-case which may be constructed wholly of metal, so'l that i guides,

a light but rigid structure is obtained ,"one which may be quickly set up, taken down, or expanded; that -the system is one which admits of expansion and contraction by the addition or subtraction of units; that I am enabled to dispense with intervening partitions between the boxes, for the reason that the boxes, combined with the guides, sustaining, and that the said vguide-pieces constructed in accordance with my invention serve to lock together and hold the i other elements or parts of the cabinet into a rigid and complete. structure.

While ticular construction and that the best now known to me, it will be understood that this showing is merely illustrative, and since it is apparenty that many changes in details of construction may be made by a skilled mechf anician without departing from the spirit of my invention I do not limit myself to the construction shown and described except so' Afar as I am limited by the prior art to which this invention belongs.

Having'thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and

ters Patent, is-

1. In a {ile-cabinet and in combination, an

inclosing frame or casing having an unobstructed interior, a plurality of drawers having corner-ribs, and rib-engaging drawerguides at the intersections of saiddrawers.

2. In a file-cabinet and in combination, an inclosing frame or casing having an unobstructed interior, a plurality ofy drawers having corner#ribs, and removable rib-engaging drawer-'guides at the intersections of said drawers.

3. In a file-cabinet and in combination, an inclosing frame or casing having an unobstructed interior, a plurality of drawers, drawer-guides. at the intersections of said drawers, and means to form an interlocked sliding connection 4. In a {ile-cabinet and in combination, an inclosing frame or casing' havin r ari unobstructed interior, a plurality of drawers, removable drawer-guides at the intersections of said drawers, and `means to 'form an interlocked sliding connection between the said drawers and guides.

5. lIn a iile-cabmet andin combination, an inclosing frame or casing, a plurality of drawers having guide-engaging corners, and drawer-guides at the vintersections of said drawers having sliding engagement with said drawer-corners.

6. In a {ile-cabinet and in combination, an

inclosing frame or casing, a vplurality of drawers having guide-engaging corners, and

drawer-guides at the intersections of said drawers having sliding and interlocking engagement with said drawer-corners.

7. In a iile-cabinet and in combination, an

between said drawers and I have shown an'ddescribed a par-A desire to secure by Let- IOO from 'the drawer-corners at an angle equidistant from the walls of the drawers, said ribs being provided with guide-engaging and interlocking beads, and drawer-guides at the intersections of said drawers having chaunels or runways to receive and interlock with said beaded ribs.

8. In a file-cabinet and in combination,` an j inclosing frame or easing, a plurality ol' channel-pieces together.

drawers having outstanding corner-ribs, and drawer-guides at the intersections of said drawer shaving channels or runways 'to receive the corner-ribs ot' said drawers.'

9. In a tile-cabinet and in combination, an inclosing frame or casing, a plurality ol" drawers having outstanding diagonal cornerribs, and drawer-guides at the intersections ofsaid drawers having diagonally-arranged channels or runways to receive said diagonal corner-ribs. C

10. In a file-cabinet and in combination, an inclosing frame or casing, a plurality ot' drawers having outstanding diagonal cornerribs provided with guide-engaging beads, and drawer-guides at the intersections of said drawers provided with undercut channels or runways to receive said beaded corner-ribs.

11. A drawer-Guide for {ile-cabinets of substantially crucirorm shape in cross-section and having means tor engaging ribs on the adjacent corners of a grou ot' drawers.

12. A drawer-guide for fil-cabinets of substantially cruciform shape in cross-section, and having means for making interlocking engagement= with ribs on the adjacent corners of a group of drawers.

13. A drawer-guide for file-cabinets ot' substantially cruciorm shape in cross-sec tion and having channels or runways to receive ribs on the adjacent corners oi a group of drawers.

14. A drawer-guide for file-cabinets of substantially cruciiorm shape in cross-section .and having undercut channels or runways to receive and interlock with ribs on the adjacent corners olz a group of drawers.

15. In a file-cabinet, the combination with a plurality of sheet-metal drawers having outstanding cornerribs, of a drawer-guide formed of sheet metal and having rib-receiving channels or runways to receive the adjacent corner-ribs of a group ol drawers;

16. In a file-cabinet', the combination with a plurality of sheet-metal drawers having integral outstanding corner-ribs, of a drawer guide and support formed of sheet metal and having rib-receiving channels or runways to receive the adjacent corner-ribs of a group of drawers.

17. In a file-cabinet, tne combination with a plurality of sheet-metal drawers having integral outstanding beaded ribs provided i l l i said ribs,

with stitlening-cores, of a drawer guide and support formed of sheet metal and having undercut rib-receiving channels or runways to receive and' interlock with the adjacent corner-ribs ot' a group of drawers.

1S. In a tile-cabinet and in combination, a group ol' drawers, guide-engaging members on said drawers, a draweiguide comprising a group ol" channel-pieces curved in cross-section to form rentrant rib-receiving channels or runways, and means for securing said 19. In a file-cabinet and in combination, a group ol* drawers, guide-engaging members on said drawers, a drawer-guide comprising a group kot' semicircular channel-pieces, an( crown-pieces to engage and lock the said channel-pieces together.

20. In a tile-cabinet and in combination, a group of drawers, guide-engaging members on said drawers, a ,drawer-guide comprising a group of semicircular channel-pieces, crownpieces to engage and lock said channelpieces together, and a sustaining and stil'ening core placed centrally of said group of channel-pieces.

21. A sheet-metal file-cabinet comprising a sectional base formed of overlapped sections, overlappedsectional end panels having interlocking connections with said base-sections, a plurality of drawers, a plurality of drawer guides and supports at the intersections of said drawers, and an overlapping sectional crown-piece supported by and interlocked with said panels.

22. A sheet-metal file-cabinet comprising a sectional/base formed of overlapping sections, overlapping sectional end panels-having interlocking connection with said basesections, drawer guides and supports on the inner sides of said panels, a plurality of drawer guides and supports distributed at .TCO

the intersections of said boxes to interlock and support the same, and overlapping sectional crown-pieces supported by and interlocked with said end panels.

23. In a sheet-metal sectional tile-cabinet, the combination with end panels, of drawerguide-supporting ribs on the inner sides of said panels near the adjacent ends thereof, and a drawer guideand support detachably engaged with said ribs and serving to hold said panels together.

24. In a sheet-metal sectional file-cabinet, the combination with a base-section, of ya guide-engaging rib on said base-section, a detachable panel-supporting guide engaging said base-section rib, and a panel having a foot-rib detachably engaging said guide. e

25. In a sheet-metal sectional hie-cabinet, a crown-piece ,having guide-engaging ribs, a detachable panel-supporting guide engaging and an end panel having a top rib detachably engaging said guide.

26. In a sheet-metal sectional le-cabinet,

ISO

the eombination of oabinet-seetions having outstanding guide-engaging yribs at their abutting ends, a guide member making interlocking engagement with said ribs to hold Said y cabinet-sections together, drawers grou ed within said cabinet, and means carried y said guide to serve as drawer guides and'supports for the contained drawers.

27. In a {ile-cabinet, the combination with suitable drawer-guides, of a drawer having guide-engaging ribs extending' diagonally outward from the corners thereof at an an gle equidistant from the wallsy of the drawer.

28. In a file-cabinet, the combination with suitable drawer-guides, of a sheet-metal i 5 drawer having diagonally-placed integral holi low ribs at its corners, and sustaining and stiffening wires within Said hollow ribs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myv hand in presence of two subscribing witzo nesses.

SAMUEL T. WALTON.

Witnesses HENRY A. ILIoYr,v Tiros. MooN. 

